Wherein coffee is considered a sacred brew and the pot is always on. Welcome -- and BYOM.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Feeding Time

Okay, Coffee Mates, before we go any further I just want to make it clear -- some of my dearest friends are wolves (you know who you are). I'm going on the record with this just in case the following story somehow gives anyone the erroneous impression that wolves are in my metaphorical doghouse. So to speak.

This is a story I've long loved. If you google "two wolves legend" or anything similar you will find plenty of Native American sites that feature it. There is some variation but the basic story goes like this ...

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An old Grandfather listened with sympathy when his grandson, full of anger, told of a friend who had done him an injustice.

"Let me tell you a story," Grandfather said. "I, too, at times have felt great hatred and anger for those who have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison yourself while wishing it would kill your enemy.

"I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way."

"But the other wolf ... ah! The littlest thing will send him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all of the time, for no good reason. He cannot think clearly because his anger and hate are so great. It is a helpless anger for it will change nothing."

"Sometimes it is hard to live with those two wolves inside me for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

Terribly concerned, the boy asked, "Which one will win, Grandfather?"

Grandfather smiled and said quietly, "The one I feed."

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I'm passing this story along because it looks to me as though the Appalling Palin has been feeding her own hateful wolf extra rations. If that wasn't bad enough, she's trying to feed everyone else's hateful wolves, too.

And, dear Lord, just listen to her. She is loving it. It's as though she believes she's been awarded a kind of 007 designation for character assassination (forgive me, James Bond) and she's going to push it all the way without a thought to collateral damage. At a time when most folks are feeling insecure and betrayed, more than anything we need what brings us together to climb out of the abyss. We most certainly do NOT need the kind of rhetoric that divides and destroys by feeding the hateful wolf of fear and anger and mob mentality.

That said, I have to admit I'm having trouble with which wolf I'm feeding my own self. There is, for instance, my unseemly glee when I fantasized dumping about a thousand fire ants in Palin's pantyhose. Let her pay for THAT rape kit! You betcha. Wink, wink.

Okay. I'm going to work really hard at staying upbeat and positive. I'm going to feed my good wolf and I hope everyone else does likewise because it would be terribly humiliating to find we've let ourselves be manipulated by someone so patently morally bankrupt. Look at the little wolf in the photo below. Such a sweetie. Let's feed that one and watch it grow.

Note: There is a wonderful web site called All About Wolves that features free downloadable photos of that cool critter. That has been my source for the above photos. Go see. Enjoy.

You know,Becky,I almost opted for a movie tonight, too. But I dutifully (blech!) fired up my NPR radio feed and listened to the whole blamed thang. I'm not sure I feel virtuous enough to make up for the frustration. (smile)

Bonnie, you're probably wise to wait for all the clips and Monday morning quarterbacking that will be going on tomorrow. Small doses are easier to bear than the overdoses.

Kate, glad you liked the wolf story. I just think it's such a neat way to illustrate a profound truth.

And now I think I'll toddle off to bed and read my thriller. I'll save the movie for tomorrow. Thanks for dropping in, Coffee Mates!

You are exactly right, Miz Dee. I was allowing my own self to wallow in the muck, being delighted with each new terrible thing we learned about the woman, getting a small thrill every time she said something idiotic. And I thought, gee, that's not like me. So, yeah, I'm focusing on sending positive energy into the world and into Obama's campaign. Feeding my good wolf.